Local organizations unite to find ways to stop paths to mass violence

There have been 85 mass shootings in the United States since the beginning of the year, nine of which took place in Texas, according to the agency. Gun violence archive.

Now a group of North Texas organizations are working to find ways to stop the mass violence.

Scenes of mass violence like a mall shooting on Feb 15 in El Pasoare becoming all too common for Virginia Hoft, executive director of the Tarrant County Mental Health Connection.

“It’s an epidemic now,” she said. “If we just keep saying, ‘Oh, there’s another one, and there’s another one,’ and don’t delve into what’s really going on, then it’s going to be America. It’s not normal for me to be America.”

On March 1, she is organizing a conference called “Breaking Paths to Mass Violence.”

Authors of the book The Violence Project. How to Stop the Mass Shooting Epidemic” will present key findings on how to spot warning signs. It could be childhood trauma, depression, or suicidal thoughts.

“So there is no single profile for the mass shooter,” Hooft said. “There are several ways in which this happens. But it also gives us a lot of opportunities to stop it.”

One Safe Place in Fort Worth and United Way Tarrant County are also partnering with the event.

“That shouldn’t happen here,” said United Way Tarrant County President and CEO Lea King. If we really work together. the very things that could be the harbingers of something very, very tragic.”

They want everyone present to know that there is a way to stop violence before it happens.

“Humans are not monsters,” Hooft said. “People who get hurt hurt people, and if I can be there when someone tells me they’re hurting, then I can interrupt a path that I may never even know I interrupted.” .

The conference will be held March 1 on the campus of Texas Wesleyan University. Tickets cost $25. For more information about registration Click here.

To learn more about participating organizations, click on their name.